Mercury concentrations were investigated in freshwater sediment from two
canals in Scotland, UK. High concentrations found in the Union Canal
(353-1200 mg kg(-1)) likely originate from historical munitions
manufacture, with lower levels in the Forth & Clyde Canal (0.591-9.14
mg kg(-1)). Concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) were low - from 6.02
to 18.6 mu g kg(-1) (0.001-0.023% of total Hg) in the Union Canal and
from 3.44 to 14.1 mu g kg(-1) (0.11-0.58% of total Hg) in the Forth &
Clyde Canal - and there was a significant inverse relationship between
total Hg concentration and %MeHg. Total Hg concentration was
significantly negatively correlated with pH and positively correlated
with Fe content (in the Union Canal only) but not with organic matter, S
content or the proportion of clay present. The MeHg concentration was
not correlated with any of the above sediment parameters. Ethylmercury
was detected in the most highly contaminated sediments from the Union
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